# Why are atomic wall clocks so disappointing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 1, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427 "2007-06-01T23:11:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GuyNblueJeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GuyNblueJeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuyNblueJeans)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2007, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/1 "2007-06-01T23:11:41Z")
Of the 3 or so I’ve had (two still on the walls), they more often than not don’t switch over automatically to DLS the way they’re advertised. They don’t keep accurate time like they’re supposed to. (The radio receiver is supposed to reset them once every 24-hours, but apparently they don’t get the signal or one isn’t sent.) Of course, I’m careful to mount and position them in areas where the signal seems to come in strong. It’s like they’re all poorly made cheap plastic things that cost around $30.00. I would be fine with paying a lot more if there were well-made ones out there that worked as well as they’re billed to work. Do any of you know what I’m talking about here? I love the idea of having a clock that keeps super-accurate time, but so far these “great” atomic pieces of junk have been a bad joke. Any recommendations on where to find a quality one that works well would be much appreciated. Thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/2 "2007-06-02T00:22:22Z")
I have a SkyScan atomic clock that, so far as I can tell, has kept perfect time for 6 years (okay, I had to replace the battery once). It seems to have handled daylight saving time without a hitch. I think I paid $4 for it at a yard sale. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/3 "2007-06-02T00:38:16Z")
Where are you located? The signal originates from Colorado and isn’t all that strong. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/4 "2007-06-02T00:38:27Z")
Thread from March: [Atomic clocks and Daylight Savings](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=411865) Your clock may have trouble picking up station [WWVB](http://tf.nist.gov/stations/wwvb.htm)’s signal. It can be [spotty on the east coast](http://www.ntp-time-server.com/wwvb/wwvb.htm) during daylight hours. ---
**Author:** ![GuyNblueJeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GuyNblueJeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuyNblueJeans)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/5 "2007-06-02T01:18:51Z")
Thanks All for the comments and the links. I’m sure I’ll find my answers in the link. Again, thanks!! ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/6 "2007-06-02T01:33:33Z")
I’ve got one that I bought at either Target or Wal-mart for about 20 bucks several years ago and it works perfectly. It’s always accurate and it always makes the daylight savings switches without a problem. The only time it’s not spot-on accurate is when the battery is almost dead, and then it’s obvious because it gets really far off the mark. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/7 "2007-06-02T09:20:34Z")
I have a SkyScan clock which I try to sync up every once in a while, and it doesn’t do squat (I tried replacing the batteries and moving it to a location where it was known to work before; no luck). It currently reads 1:32PM, Wed 5/19. The **actual** time is 2:18AM, and the last time 5/19 fell on a Wednesday was 2004 (the next time is 2010). Good clock. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/8 "2007-06-02T09:39:35Z")
Well, even a stopped atomic clock is right every 5730 years. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/9 "2007-06-02T09:57:02Z")
We have three “Oregon Scientific”'s that are always spot on. Had them about seven years now. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/10 "2007-06-02T13:13:21Z")
I’ve owned several different brands and models and they have all been disappointing. All have gone off by hours or managed the time change incorrectly. The ones with analog hands often have very time consuming procedures for getting the hands in approximately the right position. I have had for years an interest in radio, including shortwave (like WWV) and especially including the “basement band” (the lowest frequencies, generally considered to be below 500 kHz). I’ve played with frequencies as low as the Omega navigation signals at about 10 kHz, wound my own resonant ferrite rods with Litz wire, and so forth. So I have put a lot of thought into where to mount the clocks, what other objects to avoid, how to orient them, and so forth. It seems to me that these products are shabbily conceived and manufactured and there is a need for a proper product. But I am surprised to hear other posters who have had success with existing products. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/11 "2007-06-02T14:44:11Z")
[QUOTE=ntucker] The **actual** time is 2:18AM, and the last time 5/19 fell on a Wednesday was 2004 (the next time is 2010). [/QUOTE] Raymond? That you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GuyNblueJeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GuyNblueJeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuyNblueJeans)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/12 "2007-06-02T16:32:10Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Well, even a stopped atomic clock is right every 5730 years. [/QUOTE] LOL. That’s good! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MrJackboots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MrJackboots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrJackboots)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/13 "2007-06-02T21:38:15Z")
What you really want is the [HP 5071A](http://www.leapsecond.com/pages/atomic-bill/) or some equivalent. They’re a little pricey, but you’ll never have to worry about the radio signal again. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/14 "2007-06-02T22:44:23Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Well, even a stopped atomic clock is right every 5730 years. [/QUOTE] If only it were stopped. It keeps marching along at the correct rate, remaining pretty much exactly as far off as always. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/15 "2007-06-02T23:16:35Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] It seems to me that these products are shabbily conceived and manufactured and there is a need for a proper product. [/QUOTE] I think they were better when they were pricey and commanded a significant premium. Now Walmart has as many atomic clocks as regular, and they are $30 or so. That doesn’t leave a lot of space for robustness. ---
**Author:** ![sunstone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunstone/32/3372_2.png) [@sunstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunstone)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/16 "2007-06-02T23:28:56Z")
Among my watch collection are 6 G Shock watches and they are actually all in synch to the second. I do have them all in the window that faces toward Ft Collins. It is actually a bit bizzare to watch them all change the seconds together. As far as DST, I have them set to ignore the shift, as we do not observe DST where I live. As an added bonus, all of these watches are solar powered, and a charge will last for several months in the dark. I like watches… ---
**Author:** ![GuyNblueJeans](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GuyNblueJeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuyNblueJeans)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2007, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/17 "2007-06-02T23:35:56Z")
[QUOTE=Myglaren] We have three “Oregon Scientific”'s that are always spot on. Had them about seven years now. [/QUOTE] Thanks! I’ll google them and see if they’ve got something I’d like. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@John\_Carter\_of\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Carter_of_Mars)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/18 "2007-06-03T05:00:40Z")
I’ve had a $20 Walmart special (SkyScan) for over a year now with nary a problem. ---
**Author:** ![T\_SQUARE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@T\_SQUARE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/T_SQUARE)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/19 "2007-06-03T08:08:28Z")
[QUOTE=MrJackboots] What you really want is the [HP 5071A](http://www.leapsecond.com/pages/atomic-bill/) or some equivalent. They’re a little pricey, but you’ll never have to worry about the radio signal again. [/QUOTE] That’s rich. The guy in the picture looks perfectly serious. I like how I can get a different color band by special order. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2007, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427/20 "2007-06-03T11:13:02Z")
I have the $20 Wal\*Mart clock, and I haven’t had any problems wiht it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-atomic-wall-clocks-so-disappointing/406427.md?page=2)